Matthew

But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

Your words matter, they have the power to hurt or help. Sometimes we say things we don’t mean and sometimes we say things without thinking of the consequences of what we’ve said. Once words come out of your mouth they cannot be taken back or unheard. We need to be careful with our words because we will have to give an account for them someday. Use your words to encourage one another, use them for good not evil.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

I was feeling a little discouraged, tired and disheartened so I began to search for a Bible verse to help me feel better. The Lord gave me this verse and suddenly I felt inspired. I remembered that it’s not about focusing on me, it’s about focusing on God. The best thing we can do in all situations is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind and He will take care of the rest.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

There’s nothing wrong with having nice things. The problem is idolizing material things over treasuring what we have in Christ. It’s more important to focus on eternal things which are more valuable than anything here on earth that is only temporary. Using our money, gifts and talents for God’s purpose should be a priority in the coming year.

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

The magi had followed the star to Jerusalem where they asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” Upon finding Jesus they fell down and worshiped Him bestowing honor to Him and acknowledging Him as King. After they worshiped Him they presented their gifts. The three gifts they brought had spiritual meaning, first gold, a gift for royalty, which represents His Kingship. Second, frankincense, a symbol of his priestly role and mediator between God and man. And finally, myrrh, a burial ointment because Jesus was the Savior who came to die for our sins.

Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the East and have come to worship Him.

The long awaited sign that the Savior had been born finally appeared in the night sky. They magi knew that the King of the Jews had been born and the prophecy fulfilled. (A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. Numbers 24:17) The message of the star is the good news that Jesus Christ the Messiah has come to pay for our sins so that we could have our relationship with God restored.

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means “God with us”.

The prophecy revealed the birth of Jesus and they will call Him Immanuel, which means God with us. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and is always with us to the end of the age. This was all part of God’s divine plan for the salvation of man and the restoration of fellowship between God and man. How wonderful to know that God loves us, is with us and will never leave us.